Former NZ wrestler guilty of sex offences

A former New Zealand Commonwealth Games athlete will be sentenced next month after he was found guilty of six sex charges, including three of rape.

Iran-born wrestler Ricardo Aryan, 36, was found guilty of six charges by a jury following a trial at the High Court in Auckland last week.

A seventh count was discharged.

The charges related to alleged offending between 2002 and 2007. Two of the rape charges dated from 2002-2003, when the complainant was 11.

Aryan competed at the 2002 Manchester Games as a freestyle wrestler, finishing fourth in his weight division.

He will be sentenced at the High Court on May 21.

- NZPA